506  Precipitate  from  Tincture  of  Sanguinaria.  {Am'0cturi884aiin 
Chloroform  being  added  to  the  precipitate  quickly  became  of  a  dull 
red  color  which  was  deepened  by  the  addition  of  acetic  acid,  this 
mixture  on  standing  separated  into  two  layers,  both  transparent,  the 
upper  of  a  pale  straw,  and  the  lower  of  a  deep  red  color.  Upon 
evaporating  the  upper  layer,  a  resin-like  mass  remained,  which  was 
translucent,  of  a  dark  amber  color,  soluble  in  alcohol,  also  in  water; 
was  reddened  on  the  addition  of  nitric  acid,  and  on  charring  a  black 
ash  resulted.  On  evaporating  the  lower  layer,  a  reddish-brown  resin- 
like mass  was  obtained  which  was  insoluble  in  ether,  alcohol  and  water, 
both  hot  and  cold,  but  readily  soluble  in  chloroform  ;  reddened  by 
nitric  acid,  and  on  charring  yielded  a  black  ash. 
The  undissolved  portion  was  treated  with  alcohol  without  percepti- 
ble change;  the  addition  of  ammonium  hydrate  immediately  produced 
a  deep  red  colored  solution,  still  leaving  a  large  per  centage  undis- 
solved. This  solution  yielded  upon  evaporation  a  clear,  deep  red, 
liquid  of  syrupy  consistence. 
The  insoluble  portion  upon  incineration  yielded  a  gray  ash. 
Another  portion  of  the  precipitate  was  then  subjected  to  the  action 
of  ammonium  hydrate,  without  any  perceptible  change,  but  upon  the 
addition  of  alcohol  a  deep  red  colored  solution  was  obtained,  which 
upon  filtering  left  a  yellowish-brown  residuum  of  a  sparkling  appear- 
ance. 
The  undissolved  portion  of  this  precipitate  was  treated  with  the 
above  filtrate  with  the  addition  of  citric  acid  and  again  filtered  leaving 
a  blackish  precipitate  on  the  filter ;  the  filtrate  on  standing  separated 
into  two  layers,  and  of  a  deep  red  color,  the  lower  of  a  pale  straw  color. 
The  former  gave  a  copious  precipitate  upon  the  addition  of  auric 
chloride,  but  no  change  with  platinic  chloride ;  upon  evaporation  a 
reddish  brown  mass  was  obtained  which  assumed  a  decided  yellow 
color,  slowly  changing  to  red  upon  the  addition  of  nitric  acid ;  this 
residue  is  perfectly  soluble  in  water. 
The  straw-colored  layer  of  the  above  solution  was  not  imflammable 
and  yielded  a  very  small  brown  product  on  evaporation,  which  was 
changed  to  a  reddish  color  on  the  addition  of  nitric  acid,  and  was  solu- 
ble in  water. 
The  presence  of  alkaloid  in  the  precipitate  was  established  by  the 
action  of  nitric  acid  and  auric  chloride,  this  precipitation  is  prevented 
by  the  presence  of  a  citrate  of  an  alkali  and  having  made  a  number  of 
tinctures  with  this  end  in  view  I  would  suggest  the  use  of  the 
citrate  of  potassium  as  having  given  the  best  results. 
